Buehrle pitches White Sox to 6-2 win over Cleveland

Posted October 02, 2010 11:00 pm

Scot Gregor

Is White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez going to win a Gold Glove this season?

Let's turn the question over to teammate Omar Vizquel, who is a bit of an authority on the subject.

Widely considered the second-best defensive shortstop in history behind Ozzie Smith, the 43-year-old Vizquel has won 11 Gold Gloves during his career.

He thinks Ramirez has a great shot at winning his first fielding award.

"There aren't many shortstops that have the numbers he has and the assists he has," Vizquel said. "He gets to a lot of balls and that's really impressed me. I haven't really seen the numbers on the other shortstops, but he's obviously had a tremendous year defensively. I think he has a pretty good chance to do it."

The season ends today, and Ramirez has a 12.6 ultimate zone rating (UZR) the best among any shortstop in major-league baseball.

Four American League shortstops the Yankees' Derek Jeter, the Orioles' Cesar Izturis, the Rays' Jason Bartlett and the Rangers' Elvis Andrus have better fielding percentages, but Ramirez has more total chances (764), by far, than any of his peers.

Often spectacular on defense, Ramirez is making a strong bid to become the White Sox' first Gold Glove shortstop since Ozzie Guillen in 1990.

"I feel like I did the job that I was asked to do," Ramirez said through interpreter Lou Hernandez. "What my coaches and manager asked me to do, I feel like I did the best I could in that role. If that means a Gold Glove, that would be outstanding. I would love to get that phone call. But the important thing for me is I did the job I was asked to do."

One drawback is Ramirez's 20 errors. Jeter has only made 6 in 549 total chances and Izturis has 8 in 594.

Vizquel said many of Ramirez's miscues could have been prevented.

"He made a lot of stupid mistakes this season," Vizquel said. "Most of his errors were ones that are not common. It's been a routine play or a throw from the outfield he shouldn't have made."

Vizquel has spent much of the season lecturing Ramirez on the sloppy errors.

"I've had to tell him to calm down and quit making those little mistakes," Vizquel said. "Every time I've had a chance to mention a play to him, I've mentioned it. But overall, he's really impressed me throughout the year. All of the mistakes he's made are mental; he's probably been tired. But he really surprised me with a lot of the plays he made."

Vizquel wants to play at least another season, and Ramirez is hoping the veteran infielder comes back to the Sox in 2011.

"Having Omar alongside, having Omar with me in this clubhouse, just being able to learn and absorb from Omar, it certainly gave me the best opportunity to do well," Ramirez said. "I feel really good about the job I did this year. I feel satisfied. I think there are some little things in my game that I'm going to work on this off-season, but I do feel good about how I performed."

White Sox 6, Indians 2 (6)

About time: Mark Buehrle pitched 6 innings in the rain-shortened game and got the win, his first since Aug. 19 and a span of 8 starts.

Home coming: Juan Pierre stole home in the first inning, the second time he's accomplished the feat this season. Pierre is the fourth player in Sox history to steal home twice in the same year.

Getting closer: Manager Ozzie Guillen needs one more win to reach 600 for his career.